LEONARDTOWN, Md. (Dec. 20, 2007)—St. Marys County Health Department and the St. Marys County Department of Aging teamed up recently to pack 220 duffle bags with an assortment of emergency preparedness supplies and information just in time for the winter storm season. The duffle bags were delivered to homebound seniors over the age of 60 currently receiving services through the Countys Meals on Wheels program.

Jennie Page, Department of Aging deputy director, and Dianne Moison, RN, Bioterrorism Coordinator at the health department, organized the duffle bag give-away with the hope that those receiving the duffle bags would be better prepared for the dangers of winter weather or any other kind of manmade or natural disaster.

Volunteers from the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) donated the time needed to fill each bag with supplies.

One of the health departments primary concerns for the health and safety of the community during this time of year is winter weather's ability to knock out heat, power and communications services, sometimes for days at a time.

People often feel it is impossible to be prepared for unexpected events, said Moison who works as an emergency planner at the health department, But the truth is that taking preparedness actions helps people deal with disasters of all sorts much more effectively when they do occur.

For more information about being prepared for emergencies, call Dianne Moison, RN, emergency planner at St. Marys County Health Department at 301-475-4330 or visit the CDC's Website at http://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/ .